Chapter 137: Facing Adversity Together

Chapter 137: Facing Adversity Together

Lu Mingchao gazed down at Cheng Zhi, her eyes brimming with tears, her faint smile tinged with a subtle chill.

Her eyes were as serene as the boundless ocean, yet as lucid as a thousand-year-old well.

Cheng Zhi's heart felt deeply wounded by Lu Mingchao's words, as if a vast void had cracked open in her chest, with cold winds howling through, making her limbs feel the piercing cold. Cold sweat dripped down her back, and her fear reached its peak, to the point where she dared not meet Lu Mingchao's gaze.

"Miss Cheng, the wicked will face divine retribution."

Master Cheng's lips twitched, desperate to speak, but he could only glare like a strangled duck, nostrils flaring with each breath.

"A woman ought to be gentle and submissive, how can you act so..."

"Not demure, not virtuous, not respectful?" Lu Mingchao naturally continued.

"I merely reflect the actions of the Cheng family."

"What? The Cheng family can act thus, but I’m forbidden to speak of it? What sort of reasoning is that?"

"The Cheng family can peddle rumors and slander, yet the Lu family is barred from clearing their name?"

"Does Master Cheng believe my brother should be drenched in filth from head to toe, silently bearing guilt and punishment?"

"Is this the conduct the sages preached in the texts Master Cheng reveres? Which sage’s great work is it? Please tell me so I can read it."

Lu Mingchao’s barrage of questions left Master Cheng swallowing his pompous, classical quotes, his face flushed with humiliation.

Further words would only deepen his shame.

Lu Mingchao’s brows dipped slightly, veiling the sharp mockery in her gaze, before she spoke after a pause, "I implore the county magistrate to dispatch officers to corroborate my claims."

Magistrate Xu: Returning from court late at night, drafting reports at dawn.

He is indeed a diligent, honest, and loyal official. It would be a travesty if he were not ranked first in the Ministry of Personnel’s year-end review.

Magistrate Xu gazed at the ink-black sky, fingers brushing his thinning hair, and sighed.

"Old Shi, gather a team to verify and investigate."

He was vaguely aware that Shi, the squad leader, had forged a good rapport with Lu Mingchao over the Chaofu Grain Shop case.

Shi’s involvement would minimize the risk of stirring up trouble.

At this, Shi, the squad leader, clasped his hands toward Magistrate Xu, tapped the sword at his hip, and strode off with authority.

Shi mused that this favorable bond was only deepening.

"Verifying the testimony will require time. Temporarily detain the Cheng father and daughter, along with the Lu family’s eldest son." Magistrate Xu slammed the gavel, his eyes sharp and his voice authoritative.

Master Cheng bellowed, "I am the aggrieved party!"

Lu Mingchao’s smile appeared suddenly, her tone almost gentle as she said, "Your memory seems faulty. Have you so swiftly forgotten my accusation that you and your daughter slandered my brother?"

"The matter of the lost virtue remains unresolved, and until a verdict is reached, you and your daughter must remain in custody."

Here, she paused, her eyes turning to Cheng Zhi, "Miss Cheng, you are young; surely you can comprehend and remember this clearly, can’t you?"

Cheng Zhi was struck by the brilliance of that smile, feeling as though she had stumbled upon a garden in full bloom, vibrant with spring hues, on a frigid, blustery winter night.

Yet, Lu Mingchao was truly venomous.

Her radiant smile masked a razor-sharp resolve.

"As Xie Lu Shi has said!" Magistrate Xu gave the bailiffs a meaningful look.

Lu Lei gave Lu Mingchao a smile and calmly went with the bailiffs.

Once the hall was empty, Magistrate Xu approached Lu Mingchao. "Madam Xie, I’ve yet to apologize for my son’s foolish actions after the flower banquet."

"Your Honor, you’re too generous," Lu Mingchao replied with a smile. "Young Master Xu is honorable, genuine, and loyal, always standing by his principles. How could there be any fault in that?"

She’d already let her frustration out subtly, and her anger was gone.

Magistrate Xu’s eyes lit up with a smile, pleased with her response, and his admiration for her grew.

She was bold but tactful, firm but not harsh, knowing when to soften her approach.

Her temperament was perfect for making her mark in the world.

Lu Mingchao’s lashes fluttered as she caught Magistrate Xu’s gaze.

She pursed her lips and said frankly, "I must thank Your Honor for letting me defend myself."

"Your Honor, rest assured, I’ll keep things clear and never cause you trouble."

Magistrate Xu caught her drift, "That confident?"

Lu Mingchao nodded, "My elder brother and I are inseparable. He’d never jeopardize my second brother’s future or reputation with such vile actions."

"It’s just a cheap trick to twist the truth and shift blame."

Magistrate Xu’s smile grew, "I’ll be watching."

It was just petty slander and lies.

"I’ll take my leave now, Your Honor," Lu Mingchao said politely.

Once outside the county office, Lu Mingchao sighed deeply.

Magistrate Xu had probably decided to distance himself from Sun Zhiye and back her instead.

Sadly, Magistrate Xu’s transfer would come at the start of spring.

That troublemaker Gu Huai deserved to die!

She had to use the little time left to strengthen her position, making Gu Huai hesitate before acting.

Gu Huai was set to become Changhe County’s new magistrate.

Surely, the magistrate wouldn’t ruin the county’s generous benefactor and hardworking taxpayer!

Just the charitable institution wasn’t enough.

She needed to cultivate an even more renowned reputation for benevolence.

Reputation was both a constraint and a talisman.

The night wind picked up. Lu Mingchao pulled her cloak tight and hurried out of the alley by the county office.

At the entrance of the alley, by the carriage, Xie Yan stood tall and poised, holding a lantern, waiting for her.

"A Yan."

Lu Mingchao lifted her skirt and hurried over, Xie Yan's eyes filled with a smile.

"A Yan." Lu Mingchao hooked her finger with Xie Yan's, narrating the events in the county hall at a leisurely pace.

"Master Cheng and Cheng Zhi are completely shameless!"

"As long as big brother remains calm, that's good." Xie Yan hung the lantern in front of the carriage and helped Lu Mingchao into the carriage.

Inside the carriage, the light was faint.

Lu Mingchao felt a sudden pain in her fingertip and involuntarily gasped.

Xie Yan frowned, lightly grasping Lu Mingchao's wrist, bringing it close to his eyes for a careful look. "There's a bamboo splinter in your fingertip, don't move, let me pick it out for you."

Under the seat of the carriage, there was a small box with everyday items.

"How did you end up with a bamboo splinter?"

After removing the splinter, Xie Yan asked in confusion.

Lu Mingchao didn't hide it. "I was handling a bow and arrow."

"After all, it's outside the county hall, using sharpened bamboo was safer."

"Sun Zhiye?" Xie Yan had a sudden realization.

Lu Mingchao blinked, resting her head on Xie Yan's shoulder. "He's truly a despicable person."

"First, he tricked you into visiting the Floating Fragrance Pavilion, and now he's urging me to divorce and remarry, even boldly offering me seventy percent of his family's wealth."

After repeated setbacks and blows, some people harbor resentment, some are utterly defeated, but Sun Zhiye, on the other hand, became obsessed and lost his mind.

"He still thinks he's the Jade String Gentleman that everyone once praised."

"Destiny is not in your favor."